Our Moon

Page
2

Surface features different from near side

More craters

Very few maria

Thicker crust

Slide 13

It’s Just a Phase

Moonlight is reflected sunlight

Half the moon’s surface is always reflecting light

From Earth we see different amounts of the Moon’s lit surface

The amount seen is called a “phase”

Slide 14

Waxing and Waning

New moon

Waxing Crescent moon

First Quarter moon

Waxing Gibbous moon

Full moon

Waning Gibbous moon

Third Quarter moon

Waning Crescent moon

New moon

Slide 15

Slide 16

Slide 17

Slide 18

Lunar Eclipses

Moon moves into Earth’s shadow – this shadow darkens the Moon

Umbra

Penumbra

About 2-3 per year

Last up to 4 hours

Slide 19

Solar Eclipses

Moon moves between Earth and Sun

Moon casts a shadow on part of the Earth

Total eclipses rare – only once every 360 years from one location!

Slide 20

The Tides

Tides caused by pull of Moon’s gravity on Earth

High tide –

Side facing Moon and side away from Moon

Every 12 hours, 25 ½ minutes

Low tide –

On sides of Earth

Slide 21

Slide 22

Slide 23

Slide 24

Slide 25

Ice on the Moon?

1994 – Clementine probe

1998 – Lunar Prospector

Slide 26

Moon base of the future?

What would you need to live there?

Slide 27

Slide 28

Slide 29

Slide 30